The Netherlands is often seen as a global pioneer in cannabis policy, yet its legal framework for THC-containing cannabis is still one of the most complex and paradoxical in Europe.
This paper provides a clear and practical introduction to the regulatory landscape governing THC-containing cannabis in the Netherlands, distinguishing between recreational and medical use and placing the Dutch approach in its wider international and European context.
It explores how cannabis is still formally illegal under Dutch law, while being tolerated in tightly controlled circumstances through the well-known coffeeshop system, a model that has created enduring legal grey areas, most notably the “back-door problem”, where retail sales are tolerated but supply remains fully criminalised. The paper also examines how evolving products such as concentrates, oils and edibles are classified under the Opium Act, and why these distinctions matter in practice for businesses, operators and regulators.
A key focus is the Closed Coffeeshop Chain Experiment, the Dutch government’s flagship attempt to test a fully regulated cannabis supply chain. The paper explains how the experiment works, the challenges it has faced since its formal launch in 2021, and what early developments suggest for the future of recreational cannabis regulation.
The second part of the paper turns to medical cannabis, outlining the highly centralised Dutch model built around the Office of Medical Cannabis (OMC), the monopoly position of licensed producers, and the strict quality and distribution controls. It also considers mounting legal and policy pressure on this system, including case law, patient access issues, and proposals to reform or dismantle the current monopoly structure.
Together, the paper offers a guide to a regulatory system that is often misunderstood, highlighting the legal contradictions, enforcement realities and policy experiments that are likely to shape the future of cannabis regulation in the Netherlands.
Introduction_in_the_Regulatory_landscape_of_THC_containing_Cannabis_in_the_Netherlands_wppnfj
Sean Hocking
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